Afghan promises return of Dr Aafia soon

Kabul, Aug 31: A promise to return 'soon' one of the three sons of Pakistani scientist and 'terror suspect' Dr Aafia Siddiqui has been made by the Afghanistan Government after repeated requests from Islamabad who was arrested in Afghanistan earlier this month and presently being tried in the US for 'terror' charges. The New York-based human rights body the 'Human Rights Watch' had also urged the Afghan government earlier this week to free the child, who is said to be a US citizen by birth.

Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta said last evening that the young son of Pakistani scientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui will be returned to his family 'soon' by Afghanistan. He added said that the boy was arrested more than a month ago, reported the Daily Times. "We'll hand the child over to his family very soon," the paper quoted Spanta as telling media persons in Kabul, though he failed to give details about the exact timing of the boy's release.

According to the Afghan government officials, the boy is being held by the attorney general's office in Kabul.